Notorious 313 Sinister History Tours

10/31/2023

Happy Halloween

08/21/2023

We're looking for a few great guides. Sorry we've gone dark for so long, but we look forward to awakening and reprising our Notorious 313 Sinister History Tours again in 2023.
Our "Doyenne of Darkness" Karin needs a little help with tour ex*****on. Do you like your history on the sinister side and have a flare for the dramatic? If so, you'll love presenting our Notorious 313 walking tours.
Apply here: https://citytourdetroit.com/work-for-us/

01/19/2023

Not sure Notorious 679 has has the right ring to it.

Move over 313 — here comes 679?

01/17/2023

Lots of buzz around Monroe’s “Museum of Horror.” Have you been there yet?

Saturday afternoon I took the trek down to Monroe to visit the Museum of Horror. My friends, Jeff and Todd from Detroit Paranormal Expeditions suggested I check it out. They did a recent investigation down there and told me it was pretty active. As I walked in, I was greeted by a smiling

12/25/2022

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” Ebenezer Scrooge
🎄 Merry Christmas 🎄
📸 Robert C. Valade Park

11/25/2022

Our friends at Detroit Paranormal Expeditions took a trip to Monroe to check out the Michigan Museum of Horror. Sounds creepy. Have you been there?

10/31/2022

Happy Halloween! 🎃👹👻🤡☠️

10/27/2022

Cool footage. Anyone attending Theatre Bizarre?

The largest Masonic Temple on Earth is in the Cass Corridor of Midtown Detroit. In this brief video of the exteriors you see it in use as the venue for Theat...

10/13/2022

Pretty cool, don’t you think?

Ladies -- I mean, witches of Elk Rapids -- gathered on Sunday for the group’s first Witches Full Moon Paddle.

10/07/2022

Even the safest city in Michigan has its occasional murder. Here is an unsolved crime from 1923.

10/05/2022

Urban pumpkin patch & more at The District Detroit. https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/10/05/columbia-street-fall-festival-district-detroit/69538564007/?fbclid=IwAR35HZlI_mZpVerYUeIN4CUVdYtKzPjrCHDCLVd4-qXl1JAPnJVtVMBelL4

A pumpkin patch takeover is coming to District Detroit for six weeks.

10/05/2022

Our friends at Detroit Paranormal Expeditions came up with this list. Have you experienced a ghostly encounter at any of these places? We’ll be visiting the Two Way Inn at the end of the month. Join us! Tix go on sale this weekend.

https://www.clickondetroit.com/features/2022/10/05/these-are-the-most-haunted-michigan-bars-restaurants-according-to-detroit-ghost-hunters/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=snd&utm_content=wdiv&fbclid=IwAR2ejW2Ncp5tHcgjY-niO-doNP9zxtBpLGElksE1lYwExUXtetuUnpVMXAM

People always ask us, what are DPX’s favorite haunted places in the state? We decided to do something fun and come out with our list of haunted pubs, bars and restaurants.

09/25/2022

Anyone remember this tragic accident involving the Flying Wallendas?

Some of the crowd panicked when members of the high-wire Flying Wallendas fell at the Shrine Circus at the State Fair Coliseum.

09/04/2022

We're baaack!
This page has gone dark for a while. Sorry about that. I'm still around. Between juggling serious health issues & a busy tour season of public and private "See The D" tours, it's been a little overwhelming. Making it through the immediate week is how I've been rolling most of this year. (Do you follow our City Tour Detroit page?)
Anyway, today's overcast skies and cool temperatures do conjure up exciting images of dark, evening walks and the sharing of spellbinding tragic true stories from the past. SO, this year I will offer a few Notorious 313 walking and bus tours beginning October 19. Ironing out a few details but will announce our short but sweet, limited Notorious 313 tour season soon.
Meanwhile, check out our past Facebook Lives for some very interesting sinister history! --Karin

05/30/2022

Remembering today those who gave their all and made the ultimate sacrifice.

05/13/2022

Join our tour guide Jason on Friday the 13th for a night of true crime. Travel back to the early 1880s when a foul murder took place which captivated the city of Detroit. Uncover the clues and details that puzzled the Detroit police and citizens alike. Perhaps you can draw your own conclusion when it comes to the still unsolved murder of Cornelius Alles

05/13/2022

Catch Jason at 7 pm when we will be discussing The Murder of Cornelius Alles! You can watch the live directly on the Notorious 313 page!

05/11/2022

Hard to believe that the 5-year anniversary of Chris Cornell is coming up soon. The coroner ruled the rocker died by su***de at Detroit's MGM Grand after a performance at the Filmore.
While that's the official story. Curious if anyone worked at the concert venue, hotel, or was a responding police officer or EMT. Also, curious if you heard any other explanations for his death besides su***de.

https://www.grunge.com/797691/tragic-details-found-in-chris-cornells-autopsy-report/

Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell died by su***de in 2017.

05/05/2022

Cyril Hansen was a mild-mannered clerk at the police department. However, when he left that job, he turned to a life of crime, looking for a little excitement. He was caught in 1922 holding up a furniture store with 11 people inside. While awaiting his trial, He broke out of the county jail with seven other inmates. He was caught shortly thereafter and was quoted saying, “I’m going to plead insanity” and “I don’t believe I can get away with it. The whole business doesn’t pay.”

04/29/2022

In December of 1885, Bertha Duckwitz’ throat was cut by her fiancé, William Stevans. Several witnesses had reported seeing them together throughout the evening of her death. When Stevens returned home, he went to his mother and said, “Mother, should I marry Bertha?” when she replied, yes, he said, “No. I will not, because Bertha is dead.” He then went into the kitchen to wash the blood off his hands and dry them on a towel which was later used as evidence against him. Bertha was buried in a black lace dress; the one she was going to be married in, as was custom for the time.

04/20/2022

Notorious serial killer, H. H. Holmes is known as the American Jack the Ripper, with 27 victims and possibly more. The majority of his murders occured in Chicago, but he came to Detroit while on the run from the police. Where the John Dingell VA Medical Hospital is currently, is the site of 241 East Forest. Here, Holmes stayed and attempted to bury the bodies of Alice and Nellie Pitezel in the cellar. However, when Holmes found out that the police were on his trail, he left in a hurry, leaving an open and empty grave in the cellar.

04/14/2022

Throughout the 30s and 40s, Detroit's WJR would broadcast The Hermit's Cave, one of the earliest horror radio shows starring its terrifying host, The Hermit. The Hermit would encourage listeners to turn off their lights and huddle around the radio as he wove a yarn of horror for another night.

04/08/2022

In 1919, George Hornick was walking down 8 mile with his family around midnight when a 6 foot tall highwayman, described by the police as “mammoth”, attempted to rob him with a 45-caliber pistol. Little did Mammoth know that he was no match for Hornick. George wrestled the gun from the robber and, instead of shooting the robber, emptied the bullets into the air. Having lost his weapon, the highwayman ran away.

Photo courtesy of Detroit Public Library's Burton Historical Collection

03/31/2022

On December 5, 1915, Frank Castiglone was riddled with bullets by 5 men on the corner of Riopelle and Fort Street. The men scattered after the heinous act, but four weeks later, Dominick Rick was arrested for the murder. Rick lived in Toledo but had been in Detroit the day of the murder and had written a letter to two men in the city about his desire to kill Frank. While Dominick Rick was found, none of the other murderers were.

03/25/2022

The Leland Hotel was built in 1927 as the Detroit Leland and has seen a number of odd crimes. It was reported to be a popular hangout spot for the prohibition era Purple Gang. It has also been frequented by Jimmy Hoffa. It is rumored to be haunted by a mysterious white lady, who has been spotted in the basement as well as in the hotel’s club The Labyrinth.

Photo courtesy of Detroit Public Library's Burton Historical Collection

03/15/2022

Skeletons of family were brought before judge Fred S. Lamb one day in 1922. The skeletons were to be examined for a estate dispute between Albert Harris and Ethel Harris Jones. The latter was claiming that she had the right to Sarah A. Harris’ estate on Brainard St. However, there was evidence that she was an illegitimate child, citing the skeletons as evidence. After this was established, Ethel claimed to be adopted by the Harris. The judge agreed, but papers of adoption were never found.

03/13/2022

If you watch The Dead Files tonight, you might recognize someone. I (Karin) am one of the people Stephen DiSchiavi interviews.

03/08/2022

On September 22, 1920, Thomas Quinn (aka Doyle) robbed Detroit’s First State Bank at the corner of Mack and Mt. Elliot with two other men. They escaped with $30,000 and locked the employees and patrons in the banks vault. From there, Quinn ran to Chicago, where he wasn’t caught until October 9th, 1920.

Photo Courtesy of Detroit Public Library's Burton Historical Collection